New Orleans Pelicans come up just short against Houston Rockets

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The New Orleans Pelicans entered Sunday night’s game against the Houston Rockets with a chance to take control of their playoff destiny thanks to the Indiana Pacers defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder. Unfortunately though, things were not meant to be.

The Rockets used 30 points from James Harden and a big fourth quarter run to send the Pelicans to a loss meaning that New Orleans still sets dead even with the Thunder with two games left in the season.

Final. 121. 169. 114. 69

JRUE HOLIDAY. A. <strong><a href=. PG. New Orleans Pelicans

B-. <strong><a href=. SG. New Orleans Pelicans. ERIC GORDON

D. A poor outing from <strong><a href=. SF/PG/SG. New Orleans Pelicans. TYREKE EVANS

A. Games like this make me realize just how good <strong><a href=. PF/C. New Orleans Pelicans. ANTHONY DAVIS

C. <strong><a href=. C. New Orleans Pelicans. OMER ASIK

B. Solid game for <strong><a href=. PF/SF. New Orleans Pelicans. RYAN ANDERSON

QUINCY PONDEXTER. B. <strong><a href=. SF/SG. New Orleans Pelicans

C-. Only 11 minutes for <strong><a href=. PF. New Orleans Pelicans. DANTE CUNNINGHAM

C. Not much production from <strong><a href=. PG. New Orleans Pelicans. NORRIS COLE

Other Observations:

  • The Pelicans were the victim of some really bad luck officiating tonight. I know Harden gets calls every night, but it was just felt like he got the benefit of the calls most of the time. Blatant calls were missed, and the Pelicans did the best they could to respond every time, but it wasn’t enough.
  • Offensively the team really clicked for most of the game. It seems like guys are starting to be really comfortable around each other and run to the correct spots at the right times.
  • Having Jrue and Ryno back does nothing but raise our team’s ceiling. Great to have them back.
  • Westbrook got his 16th technical foul of the season tonight, which means as of now he is suspended for tomorrow night’s game. That would be big time news for the Pelicans, and it also prompted quite a tweet from Kevin Durant.
  • No need to panic because of this loss. The Pels hung with Houston for the whole game, just had a few breaks not go their way. The magic number is still 2, and we are finally at full strength at the right time.

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